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The Extraordinary Lives of Everyday People

Open Wednesday - Thursday (and the first Sunday of the month, except Sunday 3rd Sept when it will be closed), 11am - 4pm.

In one hundred years’ time how will people understand the way we live today? We invite visitors to help future generations understand what it was really like living here now, by sharing your stories in this space.

Held in Soho House’s newly refurbished community gallery, this exhibition explores the extraordinary lives of everyday Birmingham people.

Connect and respond to the memories on display. Help add to this and future exhibitions by sharing comments, thoughts and stories in this space.

See extraordinary lives through Vanley Burke’s lens.

Discover what Mrs McGhie-Belgrave MBE brought in her suit case when she moved to Birmingham from Jamaica in the 1950s.

Be moved by ‘old wives tales’ shared by ladies from the Bangladeshi community.

Find out how activists have fought for our rights.

The Extraordinary Lives of Everyday People is the second in a series of four exhibitions from the Collecting Birmingham project. Over the coming months we will be adding new stories and objects as part of a rolling programme of events.

Objects on display are collected from local people and have been consulted on with the community through Collecting Birmingham’s engagement programme.

Objects on display have been consulted on with the community through Collecting Birmingham’s engagement programme.

Birmingham Museums needs your help to be able to tell history in its full colour and vibrancy. Over the coming months we will be holding events to further explore what it was really like living in Soho, Aston, Nechells and Ladywood. If you have a story or object that can help us tell this story please contact: